TRAVELER REVIEWS

There's no better way to learn what a trip is like than from the firsthand experiences of your fellow travelers, and our Traveler Reviews are the real deal—unbiased and unedited—giving you an honest appraisal of the experiences that await you on this trip.

Grand European Sojourn

We thoroughly enjoyed The Grand European Sojourn The itinerary and ports of call were interesting and varied; the local guides were informative (with the exception of the local guide in Heidelberg, who was "weak"); the crew was accommodating and friendly; the presentation of the food was attractive; and Renata, our tour director, was exceptional It was a delightful, enriching 26 day experience. Although the meals were varied and plentiful, we thought that they could have been enhanced with more seasoning and flavor.

We would recommend this trip to anyone looking for a lovely, enjoyable river cruise experience.

Grand European Sojourn

Great experience. The cruise director was excellent, the food was great and all countries, towns, and excursions were well worth the money. We had a great group of traveling companions and it was a fun time getting to know everyone aboard.

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to Bucharest

The trip was fantastic from start to finish. Even the weather cooperated! Fall colors were a feast for the eye. MS River Voyager is truly state of the art. As this was its maiden year, there were a few minor glitches but the crew was wonderful about being on top of things to keep the passengers entertained through the delays in the riverboat's sailing from two of the ports.

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to Bucharest

The trip was fantastic from start to finish. Even the weather cooperated! Fall colors were a feast for the eye. MS River Voyager is truly state of the art. As this was its maiden year, there were a few minor glitches but the crew was wonderful about being on top of things to keep the passengers entertained through the delays in the riverboat's sailing from two of the ports.

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to Bucharest

The trip was fantastic from start to finish. Even the weather cooperated! Fall colors were a feast for the eye. MS River Voyager is truly state of the art. As this was its maiden year, there were a few minor glitches but the crew was wonderful about being on top of things to keep the passengers entertained through the delays in the riverboat's sailing from two of the ports.

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to Bucharest

This extended river cruise across Europe, from Bonn,ending at Bucharest with four-day extension in Transylvania was a special experience enhanced by the new vessel, Voyager. I was favorably impressed with the entire staff, who combined to make it a comfortable, memorable time. There were essentially no negative aspects (with, perhaps, only the extreme noise levels during dining, when 176 passengers are together in the low-ceiling dining room). All tour excursions were planned and carried out flawlessly. All personnel were obviously chosen using strict criteria, which translated into competent performances of their duties (from dishwashers to the Captain). The cuisine was excellent and served professionally by a team of friendly waiters. In all, this experience traveling the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers was a truly memorable experience.
































trasylvania was special.

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to Bucharest

The entire month aboard MS Voyager cruising the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers, ending in Bucharest and extension in Transylvania was a very enjoyable experience. The newly launched riverboat was excellent in all respects, particularly the crew, which labored constantly to provide excellent service. Tour Director Bogdan Curea and Concierge Renata Lovrovic , in particular, were consistently pleasant, efficient and knowledgeable making the journey with excursions among the best I've experienced. In short, there were no significant negatives for the entire cruise.

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to Bucharest

We liked this trip so much we want to do it again! The crew was outstanding, Enio the cruise director was unbelievable, as were the rest of the staff. Itinerary is great, excursions were super. Book it, you won't regret it.

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to Bucharest

Super trip! The ship was amazing and our wonderful Enio and his wife were fantastic. We loved it so much we are doing the Voyager again in a month..different trip, but same ship. We just hope to see some of our dear friends back on board. We would like to do the Grand European trip again tho.

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to Bucharest

We loved this trip so much we want to do it again. We are actually booked on this ship the Voyager for a different trip for August. It was just such a good trip you will really love it. Our room was super, thanks to Enio our ship Head Manager. He got us all set up. One thing I would recommend is book a French Balcony. The rooms in the lower floor are very small and with no view except the concrete dock. It's well worth the cost. We loved the tryp to Johannes Winery, it was super! I don't even like wine but his was very good andnthe bar-b-q at the winery was so good. Everything was wonderful. It seems like we like everything we have booked with Vantage!

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to Bucharest

We had been talking about doing a European River boat cruise, so when this one came up we decided to take advantage of the great bargain vantage was offering. It was a wonderful trip. The crew really made this trip for us! The hotel manager,and conceirge were just wonderful, without them our trip wouldn't have been nearly as good-and I sincerely mean that. The ship was beautiful, and our room was amazing. When we were just cruising we were able to sit by our sliding glass doors and watch the scenery go by. I would highly recommend upgrading your room to the higher floors, the bottom are just small windows high up, your not able to see anything. The itinerary was fantastic and we really enjoyed it. The only downside to our trip was the cobblestones, which Vantage had no control over, it was extremely difficult to walk on them. I am handicapped and even my husband who is not had difficulty on the cobblestones. However, the rest of it was just great. Vantage does a tremendous job with getting you the most bang for your buck!! Thanks Vantage, we are sold.

Grand European River Cruise Rhine Valley to the Black Sea

Exceptional trip well worth the expense. We have booked our next trip the Grand Asian Adventure and are anxious to see things we have only read about thanks to Vantage.

Grand European River Cruise Rhine Valley to the Black Sea

We completed our survey, however, we want to share that our entire experience with Vantage has been excellent. From the minute we made our reservation, to our saying goodbye at the airport at the end of our cruise, we did not have to worry about anything. Bogdan, our Cruise Director was excellent. From the Captain to all of the crew members we had excellent service. The excursions were fun and well thought out. We did not get to go all the way to the Black Sea because of the river being too low. However, this did not in anyway diminish our enjoyment as the alternate plans were just as excellent. And we were always kept abreast of all conditions by the Captain and Bogdan so that we knew what was happening and what the solution(s) would be.

This was our first cruise with Vantage and it won't be our last. This cruise was worth every penny we spent. We loved it and are telling everyone we meet what a great time and experience we had.

Grand European River Cruise Rhine Valley to the Black Sea

This was our first Vantage trip and it was all that we had hoped it would be. The itinerary was excellent, the excursions were perfectly planned and executed and the overall experience of this trip was over and above our expectations. Every aspect of this trip was truly fantastic, including the ship, the accommodations, the service, the Cruise Director and all of the service staff. This one trip alone let us know how serious Vantage is to make their customers happy and to make their travel with Vantage a complete success! With that, we have gone on to travel on other trips with Vantage and we are currently booked on four more great trips!

Grand European River Cruise Rhine Valley to the Black Sea

What can we say about our 13th trip with Vantage? My wife & I were sick - her twice. The flights were late, luggage lost a few days. We were exhausted by the time we reached home.

However, Vantage people were GREAT! You reacted to our needs. Provided special meals to help us over the rough times. Provided a change of clothes for an embarassing situation. (Our tour director, Elena was so helpful.)And finally, found some personal papers I left in the safe - they're currently coming back to me. Thanks for making #13 not all unlucky
Sincerely,
John & Chris Bushkuhl

Grand European River Cruise Rhine Valley to the Black Sea

Our cruise Director was excellent. He made sure that all events went well and provided great on ship entertainment. He is a great asset to Vantage.
Our food and accommodations were also excellent.
All in all the overvalue was good.

Grand European River Cruise Rhine Valley to the Black Sea

WOW-Grand European River Cruise Rhine Valley to the Black Sea

Oh, Wow! What can I say. River cruising is definitely the way to go, and Vantage does it right, at the right price. The personnel, the staterooms, the food, the itinerary. Nothing to complain about AT ALL. Unpack once, and relax. Well, not really relax, but get going on the best vacation of your lives. Included excursions or optional, it doesn't matter. They all are wonderful. I wouldn't miss any of them. The included tours would be enough, there are so many of them, but the few optional ones are a can't miss also.

The staff goes above and beyond the call of duty to make every minute a memory of a lifetime. From the never-empty wineglass at dinners, to the impromptu cocktail parties. From the spacious staterooms to the chocolates on the pillow at night. From the delicious and varied offerings at breakfast to the locally inspired entrees and deserts at dinner.

The itineraries are varied, local, and, well just wonderful. The home-hosted lunches, the local talent both on board and in local settings, photo opportunities at every turn. You do so much, there is just enough time for everything, and no extra time to get bored. And just when you think you've seen and experienced it all, they surprise you with something new, delightful, and unexpected, and oftentimes not on the itinerary. Like the 4th of July band concert awaiting us at the ship on our return from a wonderful tour. I can't say enough, and am probably already out of space.

Grand European River Cruise Rhine Valley to the Black Sea

Simply an outstanding travel experience. Crew was courteous, professional and trained to provide exemplary service. Cruise director Bogdon and Concierge were so helpful, informative and fun. The dining room officer should be noted for his professional demeanor, appearance and quality of service.

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to the Black Sea

We were well treated by Vantage, found all of the arrangements to be as advertised, and will look forward to traveling with them again. In fact, we are already signed up for a cruise in France next April. The tour guide was very well informed, got answeres to all of my questions for me and provided us with excellent local guides.

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to the Black Sea

I met many interesting people on my trip. Always the Vantage ships, staff, food, tour directors, timing of time ashore, shore excursions, optional excursions,and absolutely everything was wonderfully ! Marilyn Robb

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to the Black Sea

We have taken 12 wonderful journeys with Vantage, but this was the most "relaxing", Everyday an adventure which taught us lots of History and Culture in each place we visited, Great views at every turn in the River, great meals only. unpacked ONCE. I would do it again. Patsy & Ken Symonds

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to the Black Sea

We have taken many trips with Vantage, but the best trip we have ever taken, whether it was Vantage, on our own, or other tour groups, was the River Cruise from Amsterdam to Romania. This was a breath taking journey and we will never forget it. We would like to do it all over again. If any of you, that are considering taking this trip, are on the line about it, DO TAKE THIS TRIP!! Also, feel free to contact us, we will fill you in, what a wonderful journey this indeed is!! Much Aloha, Evonne and Paul

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to the Black Sea

This was an amazing journey. A great way to see many different cultures in one trip. To start at the North Sea and end up at the Black Sea was great. The Vantage ship was a tremendous base and very comfortable along with great food.

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to the Black

This was an unbelievable trip! We did the Transylvania pretrip extension which really complimented the river trip. We went through the old small roomed fortresses as well as the huge palaces. This trip gave us an understanding of history through a time period that was glossed over when we were in school. We were pampered the whole way with fantastic guides and experiences and by the crew of The River Splendor. After a month it was hard to leave our "home".

Grand European River Cruise: Rhine Valley to the Black

This was an unbelievable trip! We did the Transylvania pretrip extension which really complimented the river trip. We went through the old small roomed fortresses as well as the huge palaces. This trip gave us an understanding of history through a time period that was glossed over when we were in school. We were pampered the whole way with fantastic guides and experiences and by the crew of The River Splendor. After a month it was hard to leave our "home".